Side rail construction for billiard tables



July 11, 1967 E. FISCHER ET AL 3,330,559

SIDE RAIL CONSTRUCTION FOR BILLIARD TABLES Filed Feb. 25, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig] E wa/d L. F/lscher Marvin A. Merfes I N V EN TO R5 July 11, 1967 FISCHER ET AL 3,330,559

SIDE RAIL CONSTRUCTION FOR BILLIARD TABLES E wa/d L. Fischer Marvin A. Merfes INVENTOR$ United States Patent Ofifice 3,330,559 Patented July 11, 1567 3,330,559 SIDE RAIL CONSTRUCTION FOR BILLIARD TABLES Ewald L. Fischer and Marvin A. Mertes, both Fischer Manufacturing Co., Tipton, Mo. 65081 Filed Feb. 25, 1964, Ser. No. 347,289 12 Claims. (Cl. 273-9) This invention relates to a novel and useful side rail construction for billiard tables and more specifically to a billiard table side rail construction enabling the cushion of the side rail to be removably clipped onto the side rail as opposed to fastening the cushion to the side rail with.

semi-permanent fasteners such as screws.

Conventional forms of billiard tables are extremely expensive to produce, install and maintain. One of the reasons of the high costs associated with billiard tables is that the side cushions thereof must occasionally be replaced, aligned, and recovered. In conventional billiard tables the cushions are secured to the side rail members thereof by means of semi-permanent fasteners such as screws and it is therefore very time consuming to remove and replace the cushions either to cover the latter or to replace them completely. In addition, the construction of some forms of billiard tables is such that the removal of the cushions thereof necessitates partial dismantling of other portions of the billiard table.

It is accordingly the main object of this invention to provide a side rail construction for a billiard table including means by which the cushion of the side rail may be readily and removably clipped into place and adjusted in alignment.

Another object of this invention, in accordance with the preceding object, is to provide a side rail construction for billiard tables including novel means for supporting the side rails and top frames or side members of the billiard table from the depending sides of the table and the table top or playing field.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a side rail construction for billiard tables and the like including structural features which are particularly well adapted for use in conjunction with the newer types of table tops or playing fields constructed of Masonite.

A further object of this invention is to provide a side rail construction including structural features enabling the associated billiard table to be more readily assembled and disassembled.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a side rail construction for billiard tables in accordance with the preceding objects which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to maintain so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free in maintenance.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the side rail construction of the instant invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of the components of the billiard table which comprise the side rail construction of the instant invention;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indi cated by the section line 33 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by section line 44 of FIGURE 3.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings the numeral 10 generally designates a billiard table constructed in accordance with the present invention. As can best be seen from FIGURE 3 of the drawings the billiard table 10 includes a side panel 12 which forms a portion of the main wood skirt of the table 10 and has a plurality of generally horizontal openings 14 formed therethrough.

A plurality of elongated support members 16 extend inwardly from side panel 12 of the table 10 and are in the form of generally U-shaped channel members each including a pair of upstanding flanges 18 and 20 interconnected at their lower ends by means of a generally horizontally disposed bight portion 22. A rigid table top 24 is stationarily supported in any conventional manner on the support members 16 and it will be noted that the inner ends of the support members 16 underlie the outer marginal edge portion of the top 24 while the other ends thereof project through the openings 14.

An elongated side member 26 which is generally panellike in configuration is provided and extends along the upper end of the side panel 12 with its outer marginal edge portion resting on the upper edge portion of the side panel 12 in surface to surface contacting engagement therewith. An elongated cushion supporting rail member 28 extends along the inner edge 30 of the side member 26 and has its outer edge 32 in surface to surface abutting engagement with the inner edge 30. In addition, its lower edge 34 abuts against the upper surface 36 of the table top 24 in surface to surface contacting engagement therewith.

An elongated support channel generally referred to by the reference numeral 38 is provided and includes a first generally horizontally disposed support flange 40 and a second upwardly and outwardly inclined locking flange 42. The inner edges of the flanges 40 and 42 are interconnected by means of an integral upstanding flange or bight portion 44 and the flange 44 is apertured as at 46 and has a plurality of screws 48 secured thereto and into the rail member 28, the inner surface of the upstanding flange 44 abutting against the outer edge 32 of the rail member 28 in surface to surface contacting engagement therewith.

The lower surface 50 of the inner marginal edge portion of the side member 26 abuts against the upper surface 52 of the horizontal flange 40 and the upwardly and outwardly inclined flange 42 is received in a downwardly and inwardly opening groove 54 formed in the side member 26 and opening outwardly through its inner edge 30.

A plurality of locking and aligning pins or screws 56 are secured upwardly through the horizontal flange 40 and into the side member 26 after the rail member 28 which has an elongated cushion member 58 glued thereto has been properly aligned, the cushion member 58 and rail member 28 having a felt covering 57 secured to and in any convenient manner such as by staples (not shown) and the top 24 having a felt covering 59 glued thereto.

An elongated anchor member in the form of an inverted U-shaped channel generally referred to by the reference numeral 60 is provided and includes a pair of depending flanges 62 and 64 which are interconnected at their upper ends by means of an integral bight portion 66. A plurality of fasteners 68 are secured through the bight portion 66 and into the underside of the side member 26 between the upper end of the side panel 12 and the adjacent outer edge of the table top 24. In addition, the flanges 62 and 64 are provided with pairs of aligned bores 70 and a plurality of anchor pins 72 are secured through the aligned bores 70. An elongated tension member 74 in the form of a stud is provided with a transverse bore 76 in its upper end through which the corresponding pin 72 passes. The upper end of the stud 74 is received between the flanges 62 and 64 and the lower end thereof is threaded as at 78 and passed through an accommodating bore 80 formed in the bight portion 22 f the corresponding support member 16. An abutment nut 82 is threadedly engaged with the lower end of each stud 74 and supports the corresponding support member 16. By tightening the nut 82, the support members 16 may be drawn upwardly toward the side member 26 with their upper portions engaging the surfaces of the side panel 20 defining the openings 14 provided therefor. If it is desired, a trim strip 86 may be secured to the outer edge in the side member 26 and an outer side panel 88 may be supported from the table so as to expand from the lower surface of the side member 26 downwardly along the side panel 12 to enclose the latter.

When it is desired to move the cushion 58, the latter may be merely pulled from engagement with the rail member 28 and replaced or recovered as desired. In addition, the rail 28 may be readily aligned by removing the anchoring and aligning pins 56 and securing additional anchor pins 56 through the flange 40 and into the side member 26 after the rail member has been properly aligned.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A side rail construction for a table of the type including a panel-like top and an upstanding side panel supported in fixed position relative to said top with its upper edge spaced slightly outwardly from one side marginal edge of said top, said side panel including means defining downwardly facing abutment surface means adjacent but spaced from the upper end of said side panel, elongated transverse horizontal support member means extending between said top and said side panel with the outer end thereof underlying said abutment surface means and the inner end thereof underlying said one marginal side edge portion of said top, at least one elongated peripheral side member disposed above, extending .along, and supported from said one side panel, said side member projecting inwardly of said one side panel, an elongated rail member generally paralleling said side member and disposed inwardly thereof with its inner longi tudinal edge portion overlying and engaging said one marginal edge portion of said panel-like top, coacting means carried by the adjacent edge portions of said rail and side member and removably securing the latter together, said coacting means being rendered operative to retain the side rail assembled on the side member when the side rail is forced downwardly against the top and an elongated tension member secured between said support member means and said side member urging the side member and side rail downwardly and maintaining a maximum spacing between said support member means and said side member.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said side panel has an openinjg formed therethrough, the surface of said side panel defining the upper limits of said opening defining said abutment surfaces, the outer end of said support member means being at least received in said openings.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said support member means comprise a channel shaped member including a pair of generally parallel elongated upstanding flanges interconnected by means of a bight portion extending between one pair of corresponding edge portions of said flanges.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said side member has an elongated longitudinal anchor member secured to its under surface between said side panel and the said one edge portion of said top, said tension member being secured between said anchor member and said elongated support member means.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said coacting means comprises a generally horizontally disposed outwardly projecting flange carried by said rail member, and a downwardly facing abutment surface carried by the inner longitudinal edge portion of said side member, the last mentioned abutment surface resting upon the upper surface of said outwardly projecting flange.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said coacting means also include an upwardly and outwardly inclined locking flange carried by said rail member above said horizontal flange and a downwardly and outwardly opening groove formed in the inner edge of said side member in which said inclined flange is received.

7. The combination of claim 6 including a plurality of locking and alignment pins secured upwardly through said horizontal flange and to said side member.

8. The combination of claim 1 wherein said coacting means comprises a generally horizontally disposed outwardly projecting flange carried by said rail member, and a downwardly facing abutment surface carried by the inner longitudinal edge portion of said side member, the last mentioned abutment surrace resting upon the upper surface of said outwardly projecting flange, a plurality of locking and alignment pins secured upwardly through said horizontal flange and to said side member.

9. The combination of claim 1 wherein said table comprises a billiard table and said rail member has an elongated cushion member secured to its inner edge portion.

10. The combination of claim 1 wherein said coacting means comprises a generally horizontally disposed outwardly projecting flange carried by said rail member, and a downwardly facing abutment surface carried by the inner longitudinal edge portion of said side member, the last mentioned abutment surface resting upon the upper surface of said outwardly projecting flange, said coacting means also including an upwardly and outwardly inclined locking flange carried by said rail member above said horizontal flange and a downwardly and outwardly opening groove formed in the inner edge of said side member in which said inclined flange is received, said flanges being connected by an upstanding flange portion connecting the inner edge portions of the first mentioned flanges.

11. The combination of claim 10 wherein said table comprises a billiard table and said rail member has an elongated cushion member secured to its inner edge portion, said upstanding flange being removably secured to the outer edge of said rail member.

12. The combination of claim 11 wherein said cushion member is removably secured to said rail member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 172,018 1/1876 Hand 2739 200,584 2/1878 Terry 10897 643,033 2/1900 Bacon 108-97 655,503 8/1900 Moffett 2739 858,375 7/1907 Elliott 108-97 1,036,238 8/1912 Hjort 2738 X 1,158,793 11/1915 Drouot 2738 1,213,950 1/1917 Ringsmith 273-9 1,652,671 12/1927 Hoskin 2739 X FOREIGN PATENTS 719,224 11/1931 France.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

F. BARRY SHAY, Examiner.

L. I. BOVASSO, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A SIDE RAIL CONSTRUCTION FOR A TABLE OF THE TYPE INCLUDING A PANEL-LIKE TOP AND AN UPSTANDING SIDE PANEL SUPPORTED IN FIXED POSITION RELATIVE TO SAID TOP WITH ITS UPPER EDGE SPACED SLIGHTLY OUTWARDLY FROM ONE SIDE MARGINAL EDGE OF SAID TOP, SAID SIDE PANEL INCLUDING MEANS DEFINING DOWNWARDLY FACING ABUTMENT SURFACE MEANS ADJACENT BUT SPACED FROM THE UPPER END OF SAID SIDE PANEL, ELONGATED TRANSVERSE HORIZONTAL SUPPORT MEMBER MEANS EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID TOP AND SAID SIDE PANEL WITH THE OUTER END THEREOF UNDERLYING SAID ABUTMENT SURFACE MEANS AND THE INNER END THEREOF UNDERLYING SAID ONE MARGINAL SIDE EDGE PORTION OF SAID TOP, AT LEAST ONE ELONGATED PEREPHERAL SIDE MEMBER DISPOSED ABOVE, EXTENDING ALONG, AND SUPPORTED FROM SAID ONE SIDE PANEL, SAID SIDE MEMBER PROJECTING INWARDLY OF SAID ONE SIDE PANEL, AN ELONGATED RAIL MEMBER GENERALLY PARALLELING SAID SIDE MEMBER AND DISPOSED INWARDLY THEREOF WITH ITS INNER LONGITUDINAL EDGE PORTION OVERLYING AND ENGAGING SAID ONE MARGINAL EDGE PORTION OF SAID PANEL-LIKE TOP, COACTING
 9. THE COMBINATION OF CLAIM 1 WHEREIN SAID TABLE COMPRISES A BILLIARD TABLE AND SAID RAIL MEMBER HAS AN ELONGATED CUSHION MEMBER SECURED TO ITS INNER EDGE PORTION. 